Fabrication and Characterization of False Banana Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Composite
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Date
2017-10
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The increase of environmental pollution and lack of resources have resulted in great research
interest of materials that are friendly to our health and environment. In Southern part of Ethiopia,
false banana covers a significant parts of land. Natural fiber from false banana is widely available
fiber in Ethiopia. This research focuses on Fabrication and Characterization of Chopped Short
False Banana Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Composite. Experimental investigation has been carried
out to find out the effect of false banana fiber at different weight percentages of 5, 20, 30 and 40
to modify gypsum resin. 100 KN servo hydraulic universal testing machine was used to test
specimen. Modifying gypsum resin through false banana fiber improves mechanical and physical
properties—and this was the main focus of this study. The finding was that 20 wt.% of false banana
fiber mixed gypsum gave optimum properties and was found out to be better than other weight
percentages combinations. The new false banana fiber composite was compared with glass fiber
reinforced epoxy composite and manufactured using hand lay-up techniques. The addition of false
banana fiber has improved tensile, flexural and impact properties of gypsum resin, increasing water
absorption of the material. According to the results, false banana fiber can be a potential candidate
for use in natural fiber reinforced composite and is intended to improve its mechanical and physical
properties. When compared to glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite (table 12 and 13), it
has less mechanical properties. These composites can be applied as false ceiling and wall
partitioning for internal house parts of construction materials.
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Keywords
False banana fiber, Gypsum, Mechanical properties, Water absorption, hand lay-up technique, improved mechanical properties